WADA Revokes Accreditation of Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) withdrew the accreditation of a Russian laboratory, the Moscow Antidoping Center, citing non-compliance with the relevant international standards, the official website of the agency revealed Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Moscow laboratory was suspended by WADA in November 2015 after the WADA Independent Commission Report recommended such a move. The laboratory has since been prohibited from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities.

"The revocation, which has been accepted by the Laboratory, will enter into force immediately and means that the Laboratory will continue to be prevented from carrying out the testing of doping control samples on behalf of WADA or any testing authority," the statement on WADA’s website said.

In November 2015, WADA issued a report accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations and recommended the country be banned from international athletics competitions.

The Russian authorities have promised to carry out a clean-up program to fulfill the WADA demands in order for the country's athletes to be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics.

Since February, UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) has been in charge of testing Russian athletes under an agreement with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).